CHAIN CUTTER FOR CONTINUOUSLY FORMING CENTER-FILLED GUM PIECES

• US 20100313719A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jani, Bharat
• Granted Patent: US 8,683,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/13
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/008 Compression moulding of paste, e.g. in the form of a ball or rope or other preforms, or of powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2061 Compression moulding of paste, e.g. in the form of a ball or rope or other preforms, or of powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/043 for composite chewing gum coating A23G4/025
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/046 with a centre made of chewing gum
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 7/0068 Cutting or dividing chocolate or candies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7189 Comprising plural bands

Abstract

The present invention includes a chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces, which includes a first continuous elongate rotary chain with a plurality of first open die cavity portions and a second continuous elongate rotary chain with a plurality of second open die cavity portions. The first and second die cavity portions are mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about a rope of center filled consumable product, forming pieces. The invention incorporates four main variables, dwell time, chain length, chain speed and the number of closed die cavities in simultaneous engagement. These four variables can be altered to increase the output of the product, as well as maintain a satisfactory seal of the center-filled consumable product.

Claims

1. A chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces comprising:

a first continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of first open die cavity portions; and

a second continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of second open die cavity portions;

said first and second die cavity portions being mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about said rope of product, thereby forming said pieces, said product remaining within said closed die cavity for a dwell time;

wherein the number of said first and second die cavity portions being in simultaneous engagement being at least about 10; and

wherein said first and second chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

12. An chain type cutting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

13. A chain type cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

2. (canceled)

3. A chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces comprising:

a first continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of first open die cavity portions; and

a second continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of second open die cavity portions; and

a pressure plate for engagement with one of said chains for urging said plurality of cavity portions into said closed engagement;

said first and second die cavity portions being mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about said rope of product, thereby forming said pieces, said product remaining within said closed die cavity for a dwell time;

wherein the number of said first and second die cavity portions being in simultaneous engagement being at least about 10.

163. An chain type cutting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

164. A chain type cutting apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

4-11. -11. (canceled)

14-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of continuously forming a plurality of discrete pieces of a center-filled confectionery product from an elongate rope thereof comprising the steps of:

feeding said rope between a first and second elongate rotating chains, each said chain defining a plurality of mutually engageable open die cavity portions simultaneously closing a plurality of said die cavity portions about said rope along an extended length to cut said rope into said discrete pieces, wherein said number of said closed die cavities is at least about 10, and wherein said first and second chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

30. A method of claim 21, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

22. A method of continuously forming a plurality of discrete pieces of a center-filled confectionery product from an elongate rope thereof comprising the steps of:

feeding said rope between a first and second elongate rotating chains, each said chain defining a plurality of mutually engageable open die cavity portions simultaneously closing a plurality of said die cavity portions about said rope along an extended length to cut said rope into said discrete pieces; and

urging one of said chains into said engagement with said other chain to maintain said plurality of said die cavity portions in said closed position, wherein said number of said closed die cavities is at least about 10.

165. A method of claim 22, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

166. A method of claim 22, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 to about 0.5 seconds.

167. A method of claim 22, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

23-26. -26. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. A method of improving the output of a chain type cutting apparatus having a pair of rotary chains including a plurality of die cavity portions which are mutually engageable to form a plurality of closed die cavities to continuously cut a rope of center-filled confectionery product into individual pieces;

the method comprises the steps of;

establishing a minimal dwell time to maintain said rope in said mutually engageable closed die cavities; and

establishing the number of said closed die cavities and speed of rotation of said rotating chains such that at least said minimum dwell time is maintained.

37. A method of claim 32, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

39. A method of claim 32, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

40. A method of claim 32, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

33-36. -36. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

41-44. -44. (canceled)

45. An improved chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces which comprises a first continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of first open die cavity portions, and a second continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of second open die cavity portions, and said first and second die cavity portions being mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about said rope of product, thereby forming said pieces, said product remaining within said closed die cavity for a dwell time, wherein the improvement comprises an increased number of closed die cavities in contact with said rope over that of an existing chain type cutting apparatus.

48. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 45, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

50. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 45, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

51. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 45, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

46-47. -47. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

52-59. -59. (canceled)

60. An improved chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces which comprises a first continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of first open die cavity portions, and a second continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of second open die cavity portions, and said first and second die cavity portions being mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about said rope of product, thereby forming said pieces, said product remaining within said closed die cavity for a dwell time, wherein the improvement comprises a length between the rollers substantially longer than that of an existing chain type cutting apparatus.

63. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 60, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

65. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 60, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

66. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 60, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

61-62. -62. (canceled)

64. (canceled)

67-74. -74. (canceled)

75. An improved method of continuously forming a plurality of discrete pieces of a center-filled confectionery product from an elongate rope thereof which comprises the steps of feeding said rope between a first and second elongate rotating chains, each said chain defining a plurality of mutually engageable open die cavity portions, simultaneously closing a plurality of said die cavity portions about said rope along an extended length to cut said rope into said discrete pieces, wherein the improvement comprises increasing the time in which the product remains within the closed die cavities while maintaining or increasing the rotational speed of the chains of an existing method of continuously forming a plurality of pieces of center-filled confectionery product.

81. An improved chain die cutting apparatus of claim 75, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

76-77. -77. (canceled)

79. (canceled)

82-85. -85. (canceled)

86. A chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces comprising:

a first continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of first open die cavity portions; and

a second continuous elongate rotary chain defining a plurality of second open die cavity portions;

said first and second die cavity portions being mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about said rope of product, thereby forming said pieces, said product remaining within said closed die cavity for a dwell time;

wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

88. A chain type cutting apparatus of claim 86, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

90. A chain type cutting apparatus of claim 86, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

87. (canceled)

89. (canceled)

91-96. -96. (canceled)

97. A method of improving the output of a chain type cutting apparatus having a pair of rotary chains including a plurality of die cavity portions which are mutually engageable to form a plurality of closed die cavities to continuously cut a rope of center-filled confectionery product into individual pieces;

the method comprises the steps of;

Establishing a first dwell time to maintain said rope in said mutually engageable closed die cavities;

Establishing a number of closed die cavities; and

Establishing a speed of rotation of said rotating chains such that said first dwell time is at least maintained for said established number of closed die cavities.

104. A method of claim 97, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

98. (canceled)

99. A method of claim 98, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

101. A method of claim 98, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

100. (canceled)

102-103. -103. (canceled)

105-112. -112. (canceled)

113. A method of improving the output of a chain type cutting apparatus having a pair of rotary chains including a plurality of die cavity portions which are mutually engageable to form a plurality of closed die cavities to continuously cut a rope of center-filled confectionery product into individual pieces;

the method comprises the steps of;

Establishing a first dwell time to maintain said rope in said mutually engageable closed die cavities;

Establishing a speed of rotation of said rotating chains; and

Establishing a number of closed die cavities such that said first dwell time is at least maintained for said established speed of rotation of said rotating chains.

120. A method of claim 113, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

114. (canceled)

115. A method of claim 114, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

117. A method of claim 114, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

116. (canceled)

118-119. -119. (canceled)

121-128. -128. (canceled)

129. A method of improving the output of a chain type cutting apparatus having a pair of rotary chains including a plurality of die cavity portions which are mutually engageable to form a plurality of closed die cavities to continuously cut a rope of center-filled confectionery product into individual pieces;

the method comprises the steps of;

Establishing a first dwell time to maintain said rope in said mutually engageable closed die cavities;

Establishing a speed of rotation of said rotating chains; and

Establishing a length of said chain such that said first dwell time is at least maintained for said established speed of rotation of said rotating chains.

137. A method of claim 129, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

130. (canceled)

131. A method of claim 130, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

133. A method of claim 130, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

132. (canceled)

134-136. -136. (canceled)

138-145. -145. (canceled)

146. A method of improving the output of a chain type cutting apparatus having a pair of rotary chains including a plurality of die cavity portions which are mutually engageable to form a plurality of closed die cavities to continuously cut a rope of center-filled confectionery product into individual pieces;

the method comprises the steps of;

Establishing a first dwell time to maintain said rope in said mutually engageable closed die cavities;

Establishing a length of said rotary chains; and

Establishing a speed of rotation of said rotating chains such that said first dwell time is at least maintained for said established length of said rotary chains.

154. A method of claim 146, wherein each of said first and second chains has a major diameter length and said chain defines a length of closed die cavities, and wherein the ratio of the closed die cavity length to the major diameter length is from about 0.3-0.6 to 1.

147. (canceled)

148. A method of claim 147, wherein said chains are rotatable at a speed of from about 30 m/min to about 200 m/min.

150. A method of claim 147, wherein said dwell time is between about 0.1 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

149. (canceled)

151-153. -153. (canceled)

155-162. -162. (canceled)